The lift came to a stop on the second floor and Megan pushed the grate open. Gunnar stepped out, carrying a squirming Katelyn. "I don't wanna go to bed," she whined. "Can't I stay up? You get to stay up."
"Si, but I'm older," Megan said.
"And little girls need their sleep so they can annoy the rest of us in the morning," Gunnar said, walking through the living room and to the corridor on the left wall.
Megan followed them down the hall, smiling to herself as Katelyn tried to bribe Gunnar with her best stuffed animals to let her stay up for Santa. Gunnar shook his head. "No use in trying to bribe me, Kate," he said. "Your mother wouldn't be happy if I let you stay up."
"Please?" Katelyn whined, swinging one of her arms behind his back as he opened up a door and walked in. Gunnar walked over to the bed and plopped the blond down on the blue blankets. She wrapped her other arm around the doll she'd held onto the entire trip. "Tia Megan, you'll let me stay up, right?"
Megan walked over to the bed and said, "Bed, chica. The sooner you go to bed, the sooner you can wake up and open the rest of your presents." She reached out and pulled a corner of the blanket back.
Katelyn sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get to stay up longer. She climbed under the covers and laid back against the white pillows piled behind her. "Do I get a story, at least?" she asked.
Megan smiled at her niece as she tucked the covers around Katelyn. "A story," she said. "What kind of story do you want?"
"I want a love story," Katelyn said.
"A love story?" Megan said, sinking onto the side of the bed. Her leg was starting to give her pain after the crazy off balanced dance with Jake. Throwing her weight all over the place in that manner was still something that caused her leg to really hurt.
"Yeah," Katelyn said, grinning. "And Gunnar has to help you."
Gunnar's deep chuckled sounded behind Megan. "I'm not the best person to ask for a love story, Kate," he said.
"But you can make one up," she said. "That's the whole point of story, right? Making something up for fun?"
Megan looked over her shoulder at the Swedish giant and raised a shoulder in a half shrug. "Care to give it a try? She won't go to sleep until we do something," she said. Gunnar rolled his eyes, but nodded.
"And I can throw in anything I want," Katelyn said.
Megan chuckled. "This should be an interesting story, then," she said. "Alright...Once upon a time, there once lived a-"
"A princess," Katelyn jumped in.
Megan smiled. "A princess and she lived in a large castle. She had many friends, but she was never really happy. Because-"
"Gunnar's turn," Katelyn said, pointing over Megan's shoulder.
The giant sighed and pulled a chair up next to the bed. "She wasn't happy," he said as he sank down into the chair, "Because she was a bit-"
"Language," Megan chided, shooting him a pointed look.
Gunnar rolled his eyes. "Because she was snippy, bossy, and no one likes a woman like that," he said. Megan smirked at him. "She was this way because of her father. His wife left him for a different king so he spoiled his daughter with everything she wanted so she wouldn't leave."
"That's stupid," Katelyn said.
"But he didn't want her to leave and men get weird when they try to keep women with them," Gunnar said. "I remember this one time-"
"It's not part of the story, Gunnar," Katelyn said. "Stick to the story."
"Hey, we're making all of this up," Gunnar said, though he was smirking slightly. "You don't know what's in the story."
"Stick to the story," Katelyn said.
Megan chuckled and shook her head. "Rotten brat," she said. "If you're going to complain, we'll leave and let you get to sleep." She started to stand.
"No," Katelyn said, reaching out.
"I'm already moving," Megan said. "And you know how I hate to stop and go with my leg."
"I'll be good," Katelyn said. "I'll be quiet. Please?"
Gunnar leaned back in his seat and said, "If you want to sit someplace comfortable, my lap is open."
Megan rolled her eyes and sat back onto the bed. "So the king loved his daughter, giving her everything she wanted so she wouldn't leave, but no matter what she was given, the princess was unhappy. She saw so many people fall in love, but she didn't have anyone her age to love. So, one day, she went to her father and demanded that he get her a husband. Now, the king, not wanting to make his daughter unhappy, but far from letting anyone have his little girl, set out a challenge too impossible for any man to meet. It was-"
"Gunnar's turn," Katie said, turning her eyes to her cousin.
Megan turned to see what he would continue with, hoping he'd keep it at least PG-13.
The giant smiled and said, "It was a seducing contest. The man who could sweep the princess off her feet would be her new husband. All the princes that tried were idiots and sucked at seducing the princess because all the good seducing princes already had their princesses. So, after all the idiots tried to seduce the princess, and failed, the king threw a great party to celebrate his daughter's staying with him. It's kinda creepy of him, but I think it's safe to say that this guy doesn't have all his marbles. Anyway, he invited everyone in the area. Everyone shows up and they're having a good time. But then one of the people invited got up and walked over to the princess. He grabbed her and kissed her in front of everyone. The princess was so moved by his kiss that she fell in love with him. They married, the king had a heart attack and died, leaving the kingdom to the two lovebirds and they lived happily ever after. The end. Now get to sleep."
"Wait a minute," Katie said, stopping Gunnar as he tried to stand up. "What kind of ending is that? Who falls for someone just from a kiss? No kiss is that powerful."
"Even if it looked like this?" Gunnar reached out and grabbed Megan, pulling her to her feet. She became off balanced and he used that as a chance to dip her back over his arm and lower his head close to hers. He watched as Megan's eyes widened in surprise as he drew closer. But he didn't kiss her. He straightened and said, "What about now?"
Katie tilted her head to the side and said, "Okay. Maybe. In a story."
Megan blushed and cleared her throat. She stepped away from Gunnar's arm and gently pushed Katie back into the pillows. "You've had your story, Katie. Go to sleep," she said.
"Night, Aunt Megan," Katie said, snuggling under the covers with her Swedish doll.
"Good night, chica," Megan said, kissing the small girl's forehead. They walked to the door and turned the lights off.
"Sleep tight, kiddo," Gunnar said.
"Night, Gunnar," Katie said sleepily.
Megan smiled and quietly closed the door before turning down the hallway to the lift. As they waited for the lift to reach their level, Megan looked over at Gunnar and said, "Interesting ending."
Gunnar shrugged. "I'm not one for story telling," he said. He smirked at her. "Did you enjoy the ending?"
Megan chuckled. "Si," she said. "Especially the part where 'the king had a heart attack and died'. Definitely not a traditional ending."
"Nothing about our story was traditional," he said.
"True," she said, smiling. The doors to the lift opened and they climbed into the carriage. Gunnar pulled the gate closed and the lift started toward the first floor. "I didn't take you as the romantic sort," Megan said, filling the silence between them.
"I'm not," Gunnar said.
Megan raised an eyebrow. "And the kiss scene?" she asked.
Gunnar shrugged. "Something I saw in a movie long time ago," he said. "Thought she might get a kick out of it. Seemed it worked."
Megan shrugged her agreement, a half smile on her lips. She'd originally thought that Gunnar was a brainless mass of muscle. She wasn't completely off that thought, but she was starting to see he was more than that. He had a soft spot for Katelyn and that was something that really stuck with her.
The lift stopped and they stepped off. Megan paused before saying, "What the hell did you do?"
Barney looked up from his spot on a stool. He was shirtless and Christmas was wrapping his ribs with some gauze, but the bruises could be seen through the fabric and along his entire side. "Nothing too bad," Barney said, taking a swig of beer.
"Too bad?" Megan said, walking over to the men. She eyed the bruises and shook her head. "It looks like you busted at least two ribs, cracked another two, and I wouldn't be surprised if you had internal bleeding. No wonder you flinched when I hugged you."
"It's not that bad," Christmas said, continuing his wrapping as if having the crap kicked out of them every day was just normal routine. For these guys, it was, but, still... "We've had worse."
Megan frowned and raised an eyebrow. "Really," she said, shaking her head. "Can't you come back just once without having to patch each other up?"
"Careful," Barney said. "People might think you care."
"And you better be careful or Lee will be down one sex toy," Megan said. "I mean, he probably has more than just you, but, still, I'm sure he favors you more than the others." She watched as Barney stiffened a little and his gaze shoot to Christmas before his body relaxed. He probably forced himself to relax on the outside to counteract what he was feeling inside.
Lee sent Megan a glare. "You're mean when you worry," he said.
She smirked for a moment. "Well, if you hadn't wasted so much time keeping your feelings from each other, you wouldn't have your partner questioning if my statement is real or not," she said.
"Relationships are complicated, especially in our line of work," Barney said. "It took a while to come out about it."
Megan shook her head. "What an excuse," she said. "Jake and Cougar didn't have this problem."
"They're also considered dead by the government," Lee said. "Not exactly what you'd normally want as a motive for confessing things."
"I heard my name," Jake said, leaning on Megan's shoulder. "What are we talking about? Did I do something? Barney, dude, what happened? Someone use you as a punching bag?"
"Just a regular Expendables mission," Barney said.
"You're going to get yourselves killed," Megan said, watching Lee continue with his work. "You're not getting any younger, you know."
"I'm starting to agree with Lee," Barney said. "You're mean when you worry."
Jake laughed and ducked away when Megan tried to take a swipe at him. She wasn't one to break down into tears or wring her hands when she was worried about someone. Instead, she was harsh and mean. It turned a lot of people away, but these people knew that it was just her worrying.
Cougar walked up to them and smacked the back of his husband's head before wrapping an arm around his sister's shoulders. He knew how she dealt with concern. When he use to call her and was vague about what he was doing, it usually meant it was a secret mission, most likely dangerous. She'd scorn him a bit, but always end with a 'Don't get yourself killed. I'd hate to go through your things. A real pain.' Translated, it meant 'Please don't die. Be safe and I love you'. Cougar knew and would always chuckle before saying
"Why do you keep hitting me?" Jake asked, looking at Cougar. "Isn't that spousal abuse?"
"Or foreplay," Aisha said, walking into the room with Tool, Clay, and Delilah.
Tool pulled the pipe from his back pocket and clenched it between his teeth. "As long as you aren't interfering with my sleep, I don't care what kink you're into. Just try not to be too loud," he said.
Delilah stopped by Megan and said, "How was Katelyn?"
"Didn't want to go to bed," Megan said, smiling at her sister-in-law. "She wanted a story. You have one spoiled kid, you know that?"
"You do realize that you and Jake are the ones that spoil her more than me, right?" Delilah asked, smiling. Megan opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again. Delilah gave her a satisfied look, knowing that Megan couldn't really refute her statement, then turned to the others. Her gaze wandered around the room and she asked, "Where did Gunnar wander off to?"
Megan looked around and raised an eyebrow. Gunnar was no where to be seen. She hadn't seen him slip out, but she'd also been distracted by seeing her friend covered in bruises. Priorities had been shifted, so you couldn't really blame her. "No idea," Megan said. "Probably stepped outside for a smoke."
She noticed the look Barney and Lee exchanged from the corner of her eye. There was concern there, but other looks. That look...Megan slid out from Cougar's arm and grabbed her jacket. "I'm gonna step out for a moment," she said, slipping her arms into the coat's arms. "Anything you want me to pick up?"
"A case of beer would be good," Clay said.
"Make it two," Barney said.
Megan shot him a look. "Alcohol is hardly the thing you need right now. I'm getting pain killers for you," she said.
Megan walked out into the cold and closed the door behind her, quickly stuffing her pockets into her jacket to keep them warm. Her eyes scanned the street, dark and abandoned this late at night as the snow fell. Which way would he go? She looked down and noticed a pair of large footprints that hadn't been covered too much by the snow fall. She followed them down the sidewalk and a few blocks before they turned into an alley. Her steps faltered, her mind jumping to a very unpleasant thought. She pressed a shoulder against the wall and looked around the corner.
Gunnar wasn't in the alley space, but his footprints lead her into the darkness. Megan kept her eyes open for any sign of trouble as she continued to head toward the end of the alley. She reached the end and looked up and down the lit street. This was a business area with a few residential houses. Where had Gunnar been going? Had he been- Her thoughts were cut off as a hand grabbed her shoulder and slammed her against the brick wall. She brought her hands up, aiming at the attacker's throat, but a hand captured her wrists and held them above her head while the other gripped her throat. She began to struggle but the voice stopped her.
"Still full of fight, I see."
Megan stared at the man in front of her and paled. "Adam," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. He was taller than her by a few inches, but was strong enough to keep her pinned to the wall. His brown hair was buzzed low to his head and his green eyes shone with dark amusement in the near by lamp post light.
"Hello, Megan," he said.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her heart beat picking up speed. She silently cursed herself for reacting this way.
Adam's gaze dropped to her lips and he leaned close enough that she felt his hot breath on her cheek. Megan pressed back against the wall, unsuccessfully trying to put distance between them. "It's been a few years," he said in a low voice. "I missed you and wanted to say hi."
"Bullshit," she said.
"Come, now," he said. "Where's that Christmas spirit you always have? I remember you always being in a good mood around this time of year." He purred the last and pressed against her. She grimaced as she felt his hardness through his jeans.
"And, what?" she asked, her voice becoming steel. "You thought that you could show up out of the blue and get a quickie? You really are loco if you think that."
Adam chuckled and the grip on her throat tightened. She winced. "One time, we were good together. But now you're deformed. Really? Me screwing a one legged bitch? I'm not that desperate."
The words stung, but Megan kept her expressions as neutral as she could. "So what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I have a message for your little group of losers," he said.
"What-"
"Don't even try playing the dumb card," Adam said. "We both know that you have contact with them. So pass this on like a good girl. Tell them that Max sends his regards and wishes them a Merry Christmas. He so enjoys a good party."
A chill ran down Megan's back. Max knew where they were? "What-"
"He's not going to bother them until after Christmas," Adam continued, ignoring her words. "A bit of the holiday spirit and everything. Enjoy it while it lasts." He paused over her for a moment longer, then backed off, dropping his hands.
Megan fought the urge to lash out at him, knowing that she would hardly stand a chance. She knew his strength and her shaken up state would be just what he needed to take her down. So she stayed where she was, holding herself against the wall as Adam smirked at her. He turned and walked across the street and out of sight, leaving Megan to take in a deep breath.
Max had found them and he'd sent Adam to deliver the message. This was bad. Really bad. Megan's hatred for this Max was growing and the anger replaced her fear. He's allowing them to have Christmas? Who did he think he was? The answer whispered A man that has no problem killing people. Remember those children?What happened to you? The dose of reality froze her anger, leaving her with fear and worry. How had Max even found them?
"Megan?" She jumped and turned to face Gunnar. He was standing on the side walk, staring at her with curiosity and concern. "What are you doing?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat and licked her lips as she straightened. "Running to the store for some beer and a few pain killers for Barney," she said, putting on a smile.
He stared at her. Didn't seem he believed her. "You could have walked around the block," he said.
"Alley was faster short cut," Megan said. She straightened her shoulders. "So, what are you doing out here?"
He held up his hands to show a large case of beer in one hand and a plastic bag in the other. "Same idea," he said.
"Oh," Megan said. "Well, then. Want me to carry something?" Gunnar continued to stare at her, but handed over the bag. She reached out and took it, but he didn't release it right away. "Who was that with you just now?"
Her grip on the bag tightened. "No one," she said.
"Didn't look like no one," he said.
Megan released the bag and turned on her heel. "We should get back before the others start to worry," she said.
Gunnar reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. "Why were you following me?" he asked. "Did Barney or Lee tell you to?" There was a slight growl to his words.
"They didn't say anything," Megan said. "But I saw the look they had when I asked if they'd seen where you'd gone. I've seen that look before and put things together."
"They thought I was using again," he said. Megan nodded. A second later, she found herself in the air and pressed against the wall again, Gunnar holding her so she was eye level with him. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist and her hands going to his shoulders to keep from falling. His grey eyes stared into hers. "You've probably seen drug use, being a coach. Do I look like I'm using?"
She searched his eyes for any anomalies. But there were no signs that he'd gotten high recently. He looked tired, but as if he were trying to get clean, not just off a buzz. "No," she said. "You're clean." He continued to hold her in place for a moment or two, staring at her. "Are you going to put me down?" she asked after a while.
"Who was that guy?" he asked.
Megan stiffened and squirmed, wanting to be put down. Gunnar held her in place, though. "Put me down," she said.
"Answer me," he said.
"No," she said.
"Then I guess you're staying up here for a while," he said.
Megan glared at him. "Why do you care?" she asked.
"Why do you?"
"It's personal," she said. "Something I don't want to talk about. Especially with someone I just met this afternoon."
"Tough," Gunnar said. "Because I'm not letting you go until you tell me. He obviously meant harm."
Megan glared at him, but said, "He's a messenger. He was giving me a message to pass on to the Losers."
Gunnar blinked. If he was surprised, he hid it. "How did he know where they'd be?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said. "His employer, Max, told him to give me the message. Now, will you put me down?"
He was quiet for a moment, thinking. "You said it was personal," he said. "Who was he?"
Megan stiffened and unwrapped her legs from his waist, pushing on his shoulders at the same time so he dropped her to the ground. She staggered a bit as she landed oddly on her prosthetic leg. Gunnar's hands steadied her and she paused for a moment to center herself before grabbing the bag he'd dropped when he'd picked her up. "Leave it, Gunnar," she said. "Grab the beer and let's head back."
He bent down and picked up the case of beer and fell in step beside her. They were silent as they exited the alley and headed back to Tool's garage. "You know," Megan said as they drew closer to their destination. "You didn't have to pick me up back there."
"I know," he said. "But I wanted to cop a feel. You've got a great body."
Megan shook her head, chuckling. She didn't take him seriously, but after Adam's comments earlier, Gunnar's words made her feel better. Falling back into the depression that had hit her in the first few days of adjusting to the lose of her leg was not an option she could afford. Those had been dark times and she wasn't going to let herself go back to that.
They reached the door to Tool's and walked in. A round table had been set up and everyone sat around it, looking at their cards. They looked up when the two of them entered. "You have beer," Barney said, smiling. A look of relief passed behind his eyes as Gunnar put the beer on a near by table.
Megan picked up one of the beers and walked over to him and he stretched out his hand. Instead of handing him the beer, she handed him the bottle of pain killers she'd taken from the bag. "Take two of those," she said, handing the beer to Lee sitting next to him.
"You're not my doctor," he said, putting the bottle on the table and reaching for Lee's beer.
Megan smacked the back of his hand. "No," she scolded. " But you'll take two of those pills and wait a few hands to make sure you're fine."
Barney rolled his eyes and opened the bottle. He knew she would press the issue until it got annoying, so might as well save him the suffering and do it now. Megan smiled at him as he popped two of the pain killers into his mouth and swallowed. "Happy?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "Anyone else want a beer?"
A few hands raised and Megan handed the beer out, placing it on the table near their hands. The last was Gunnar, who had pulled a chair up and had been dealt into the game. When she put the beverage down, he lightly grasped her wrist. She gave him a questioning glance, but didn't like the look in his eyes. He jerked his head at Barney and she shook her head. She was not telling Barney what had happened and ruining their evening. They needed time to relax, all of them. She tried to pull away, but he didn't let her go.
"Something wrong?" Tool asked. "Or are you and Gunnar trying to be subtle and failing, Foxy Lady?"
Megan looked up and found everyone staring at the two of them. She tried once more to get her hand out of his grip, but he didn't budge. There wasn't any pressure in his grip, despite her being unable to escape.
"Gunnar's asking me to spend the night with him," she said, thinking of something quickly.
The table went silent. Cougar's eyes narrowed and he growled, "No."
"I'm gonna go with Cougs on this one," Jake said. "I mean, he's my cousin and you're my sister-in-law. Kinda weird."
"Actually," Tool said. "Gunnar's your second cousin and she's not related to him by blood, so it's actually do able."
"Ugh, don't use that word when talking about Megan," Jake said, wincing. "Do able is sex and I don't want to picture my sister-in-law doing the nasty."
Megan raised an eyebrow and said, "Jake, you do realize that I have slept with men before, right? I'm not a blushing virgin."
Jake put his hands over his ears and said, "I can't hear you." Cougar just continued to glare at Gunnar.
"She's lying," Gunnar said. "She doesn't want to tell you about the message she was given by a man working for Max."
Instantly, everyone stiffened and turned to Megan. "Max?" Clay growled.
Cougar asked a different question. "Messenger?"
Megan swallowed hard and forced herself to meet her brother's gaze. "Adam," she said.
With the exception of Aisha and Gunnar, everyone at the table stiffened. "Who's Adam?" Aisha asked, staring at the others.
"You had contact Max related and you didn't tell us?" Clay asked, ignoring Aisha's question.
Megan steeled her spine and drew her shoulders back. "I thought it best not to tell you yet," she said.
"That isn't your decision," he said.
"I think it is," Megan said. "You've been going at it too hard and need a break."
"We'll never have a break until Max is dead," Clay said. "What was the message?"
Megan glared, but said, "He's not going to make a move on you until after Christmas. He's giving you the holiday."
Clay growled. "He knows where we are," he said. "And you didn't think this was pertinent?"
"He's leaving you alone so I didn't want to bring you down," Megan said, her own anger rising. It may not have been the right thing to do, but she'd made her call.
"And you believed him?" Clay asked.
"Yes," Megan said.
"That bastard lies like the con artist he-"
Megan slammed her fist down on the table, making the beer bottles rattle. "He sent fucking Adam!" she yelled. No one moved. She kept her gaze on Clay and calmed her voice. "I believe Max meant the message because it was Adam."
Clay stared at her a little longer, then shook his head. "Your emotions are not a reason to trust a psycho," he said.
Megan ground her teeth together, but calmly said, "Nor are yours an excuse to not trust my judgement." She turned and walked to the lift, riding it up to the second floor. It was late and the day had taken a lot out of her. Maybe tomorrow would be better.